Comics Creator Communities
These databases were created by cartoonist MariNaomi. They are cross-searchable and open to submissions.
Open Community Resources
- Comics: Art in Relationship
Comics are one of the most popular and exciting ways to tell a story. This course offers a look at the fundamental building blocks of the comic book medium. Whether students have tried their hand at comics before or are simply interested in investigating how comics work, this course will provide insights to help storytellers make the most of every page. - Make It Then Tell Everybody
Make It Then Tell Everybody is a show dedicated to finding out how comic artists and illustrators do what they do, hosted by Dan Berry. - Graphic Novel TK
Graphic Novel TK is a podcast about the process of making graphic novels -- aimed at authors, artists, and people who are interested in the behind-the-scenes of the publishing business. - INTRO TO COMIC CRAFT
This is a blog by Becca Hillburn. Hillburn is a comic artist and freelance illustrator currently living in Nashville, TN. This series of posts provide information intended to educate and inform other artists and potential artists in sequential art. - List of Art Terms for Comics Studies
While not a "how-to" resource per se, this self-published glossary lists and defines essential, must-know terms and practices in comic art production and distribution.
Learning the Craft (what's this page about?)
Words and Pictures Working Together: Strategies for Analyzing Graphic Texts
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Drawing from the Literature
Experiencing Comics: An Introduction to Reading, Discussing and Creating Comics (First Edition) by 
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Call Number: Arts Library - PN6710 .C789 2018ISBN: 9781516516988Date: 2018-09-14Experiencing Comics: An Introduction to Reading, Discussing, and Creating Comics shows students how to critically examine the craft and storytelling elements found inside a graphic novel or comic and spotlights groundbreaking work by comics creators and scholars from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds. Aspiring comics creators may find the final chapter of particular use. It provides students with comic-making activities so they can practice the craft and storytelling elements discussed throughout the book. Students will gain first-hand insight from comics professionals and practitioners through interviews with creators, artists, writers, anthology editors, scholars, and comics enthusiasts.
Making Comics by ISBN: 9781770463691Date: 2019-11-05Making Comics is the follow-up to Barry's bestselling Syllabus and this time she shares all of her comics-making exercises. In a new hand drawn syllabus detailing her creative curriculum, Barry has students drawing themselves as monsters and superheroes, convincing students who think they can't draw that they can.
Making Comics by - This link opens in a new window
Call Number: Powell Graphic Literature Collection - PN6710 .M3325 2006ISBN: 1417763574Date: 2006-09-05McCloud focuses his analysis on the art form itself, exploring the creation of comics, from the broadest principles to the sharpest details (like how to accentuate a character's facial muscles in order to form the emotion of disgust rather than the emotion of surprise.)
Comics Sketchbooks by - This link opens in a new window
Call Number: Arts Library Oversize - NC1764 .H455 2012ISBN: 9780500289945Date: 2012-09-07From political cartoons to offbeat graphic stories, from the funnies to underground comics: a contemporary look at comic art from around the world in a volume packed with vibrant visuals, deft texts, and arresting human observation.
Creating Comics! by 
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Call Number: OnlineISBN: 9781610601672Date: 2010-09-01Creating Comics! is the first book to truly explore the backstories of the most talented visual artists currently practicing. These artists walk readers through their conceptual process when devising story lines with powerful graphics. This is a must-read for all graphic novel enthusiasts!
Drawing Words and Writing Pictures by Call Number: Powell Library - NC1764 .A24 2008ISBN: 9781596431317Date: 2008-06-10Drawing Words and Writing Pictures is a course on comics creation - for college classes or for independent study - that centres on storytelling and concludes with making a finished comic.With chapters on lettering, story structure, and panel layout, the 15 lessons offered - each complete with homework, extra credit activities, and supplementary reading suggestions - provide a solid introduction for people interested in making their own comics.
Cartooning: : Philosophy and Practice by ISBN: 9780300172591Date: 2011-03-29The best cartooning is efficient visual storytelling--it is as much a matter of writing as it is of drawing. In this book, noted cartoonist and illustrator Ivan Brunetti presents fifteen distinct lessons on the art of cartooning, guiding his readers through wittily written passages on cartooning terminology, techniques, tools, and theory. Supplemented by Brunetti's own illustrations, prepared specially for this book, these lessons move the reader from spontaneous drawings to single-panel strips and complicated multipage stories. Through simple, creative exercises and assignments, Brunetti offers an unintimidating approach to a complex art form. He looks at the rhythms of storytelling, the challenges of character design, and the formal elements of comics while composing pages in his own iconic style and experimenting with a variety of tools, media, and approaches. By following the author's sophisticated and engaging perspective on the art of cartooning, aspiring cartoonists of all ages will hone their craft, create their personal style, and discover their own visual language.
Digital Tools and Hosting Platforms
The multimedia design platform, Canva, offers users an array of comic book templates to use for instructional, story-telling and/or marketing goals. In addition to their variety of comic strip templates (explore template page) Canva has a vast library of icon elements (speech balloons, thought bubbles, onomatopoeias) to ensure your webcomic meets the formal figural standards of comic art. All of Canva's comic design tools are available through free version of Canva subscription; some elements may be limited to pro account. Below are step-by-step instructions from Canva for creating your webcomic:
1. Find your template
Pick a blank canvas or choose a Comic Strip template.
2. Explore your template
Each template comes with a complete page, a blank page, speech bubbles, and illustrations.
3. Customize your comic
Tell your story, edit the colors, speech bubbles icons, and more.
4. Publish and share
Share your comic on social media, download and print.
ComicFury webcomic hosting is a free, easy to use and advertisement-free tool that will help you easily set up and host a website for your webcomic, without any technical knowledge. All you will have to worry about when using ComicFury is actually making the comics, the rest is provided by us. ComicFury gives your webcomic a completely customizable website, you can make your own layout, configure a ton of settings and it even comes with an author blog, RSS feeds and comment system.
"Pixton allows teachers and students to construct their own comic strips. There are a variety of comic strip layouts, numerous character and background choices, and a ton of creative options. This is a great learner-centered tool that allows students to construct their own knowledge and display it in a way that is meaningful to them by allowing them to create comics representing their concepts and ideas" (Pixton Comics | Online Tools for Teaching & Learning, n.d.) While it does not cost to create a Pixton account, templates for design are very limited in free version. Paid subscriptions are required to gain access to more templates and assets.
Comic Life 3 is an app (desktop client for Windows and Mac) with everything you need to make a stunning comic from your own images. Packed with fonts, templates, panels, balloons, captions, and lettering art, Comic Life is a fun, powerful and easy-to-use app with endless possibilities. Most notable is ability to easily incorporate your own photos and drawings into comic work. There is a 30 free trial of the app with educational pricing.